Transmission, completely dead at 69K.
Power steering.
Both rear brake cylinders.
Front left calliper.
Emergency brake.
Dashboard light.
Blower motor.
Windshield washer motor.
Directional signal.
Rust in all the usual Ford Taurus places.
Leaky trunk.
Leaky radiator, etc., etc. (these are just off the top of my head).
What Ford did with the transmission on the Ford Taurus was criminal negligence. They knew that the design had some major flaws, yet they stood by and did nothing. I also have heard that the head gaskets on these cars (with the 3.8L engine) like to blow at about 70K miles. I have been lucky so far. I am going to sell this piece of junk (or donate it to charity) and buy something reliable.
I need to know how to unlock the child safety locks, the back door won't open at all.
WOW! I have a 1988 Ford Taurus GL as well and everything you have mentioned is exactly what I have had to pay to have fixed as well. These cars are gargage.
My 1989 Taurus GL sedan has 115,000 miles, and a lot of accessories. The car has power door locks, electric windows, remote controlled outside-mirrors, air-conditioning, power brakes & steering, and a velvet-like fabric interior. The car has the 3.0 V6 with automatic transmission.
Everything still works. The only problem has been the heater core, which is leaking into the defroster system. The aroma of antifreeze fills the interior for about ten minutes; at which point the system warms up sufficiently to evaporate the antifreeze/steam secretions from the defroster system.
All-in-all, it has been a very smooth-running commuter type automobile. Cruises effortlessly at freeway speeds, gets a decent 20 mpg, and has not given me much grief. I put a can of stop-leak in the radiator, and for the past month or so, the heater core leak appears to have been resolved.
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